What do Portland, Tenn., and Naperville, Ill., have in common? A common cause… animals in need.
A Place to Bark, a no-kill foster and adoption rescue located in Portland, is dedicated to saving the lives of animals. Thanks to special initiative from a nine-year-old boy named Kyle Sheaffer, the rescue mission is receiving help and awareness in Naperville.
Sheaffer attends elementary school in Naperville Unit School District 203 and as part of their “One School, One Book program,” the youngster grew to be a passionate advocate of animal welfare. He learned about the amazing work that A Place to Bark is doing through a presentation by Greg Gordon, owner Dog Patch Pet & Feed,and wanted to do anything he could to help.
According to Gordon, his pet store receives rescues every week from A Place to Bark and, with their help, Sheaffer created an informational flyer to begin
a fundraising and awareness drive at his school. He far exceeded his goal and raised several hundred dollars in donations and collected over 70 animal beds.
A Place to Bark will be presented with the donations and collected items by Sheaffer on February 27 at his school on Naperville’s east side. Gordon and the founder of A Place to Bark, Bernie Berlin, will be present with a very special guest for the kids to meet.
Sheaffer continues his relationship with the rescue organization through a $10 monthly donation from his allowance and by writing a weekly blog for A Place to Bark.
“I’ve got to tell you,” said Elizabeth Sheaffer, Kyle’s mother. “Kyle’s efforts were a small part of an entire school reading project where the students came up with dozens of ways to give back to the community as part of the “Random Acts Toward Society” (RATS) program. It’s been really something to hear about all the random acts of kindness that resulted from reading the book, Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH.”
For more information about A Place to Bark and its mission, visit www.aplacetobark.com. Or go to Dog Patch Pet & Feed located at 1108 E. Ogden and www.dogpatchpets.com.
